TSX may open lower on global economic worries

Aug 19 (Reuters) - Toronto's main stock index looked set to
open lower on Friday, extending the previous day's losses, on
worries about global growth and expectations that the Bank of
Canada will cut its short-term forecast for the economy.

FACTORS TO WATCH

* Canadian equity futures <0#SXF:> pointed to a lower open.

* Canada's dollar edged higher against the U.S. currency,
though was still weaker on the day, after data showed Canada's
annual inflation rate eased in July. [CAD/]

* Bank of Canada Governor Mark will appear before a
Parliamentary committee at 10 a.m. EDT (1400 GMT). He is
expected to cut the central bank's short-term growth forecast
and provide more details about when interest rates might move.

* Finance Minister Jim Flaherty will also testify to the
committee starting at 9 a.m.

* Mounting concern the U.S. economy may slip back into
recession hobbled stock index futures, a day after the S&P 500
lost 4.5 percent. [.N]

* European shares approached two-year lows, extending the
previous session's plunge, on fears that major economies are
heading for recession and that policymakers have no answer to
the euro zone debt crisis. [.EU]

* Markets in Asia were also in red with the Nikkei shedding
2.1 percent for a third day of declines, while Korea's KOSPI
tumbled over 6 percent and Taiwan down almost 4 percent,
suggesting the pressure was more on markets with a higher
exposure to technology.
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